Lit Brothers - 1920's-30's dated Stock Certificate - Famous Department Store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

General Stock. Vignette of two females standing at each side of Coat of Arms. Important company. Rare!!!

Lit Brothers was an affordably priced department store situated in Philadelphia. The first store was founded by Samuel and Jacob Lit at the junction of Market and N. 8th streets in 1891. Lit Brothers successfully established itself as a more budget-friendly option compared to its wealthier competitors, such as Strawbridge and Clothier, John Wanamaker, and Gimbels. The store adopted the tagline "A Great Store in A Great City" and became well-known for its millinery department.

In the same year, Rachel P. Lit (1858-1919, who later changed her surname to Weddel and then Arnold) opened a women's clothing boutique at the corner of Market and N. 8th Streets. With the guidance and innovative marketing tactics of her brothers, Colonel Samuel David Lit (1859-1929) and Jacob David Lit (1872-1950), their small shop quickly transformed into one of the largest retail establishments in Philadelphia.

From 1895 to 1907, the store experienced considerable growth, acquiring the remaining properties on the northern side of the block on Market Street between 7th and 8th Streets. This acquisition included the J. M. Maris Dry Goods Store, the Bailey Store, and the J. B. Lippincott publishing house, along with the construction of new buildings at both ends of the block, designed to blend with the existing architecture. Through various renovations and expansions, the Lit Brothers Store became the only complete block of Victorian architecture in Philadelphia, consisting of 33 buildings erected between 1859 and 1918, all featuring a cohesive interior. The new constructions and renovations were carried out by architects Charles M. Autenrieth and Edward Collins.